Media Release
Release date: 07/08/2018

New technology for food premise inspections

Significant cost savings and efficiencies are being achieved using new technology in food premise inspections.

Council’s environmental health officers are now using mobile devices to conduct and record results of food premise verifications, replacing the previous paper record system.

Last year Council’s information technology services and land information GIS (geographical information systems) teams worked together to develop a digital food control form and reporting system that is compatible with the Council’s and Ministry of Primary industries existing systems.

The digital system reduces time and money spent in processing findings and eliminates manual tasks, while providing better, targeted communications with customers.

The new technology has resulted in a budget savings of about $40,000 for the initial programme and $10,000 in annual licensing.

Once complete, verification data can be uploaded in bulk transfers between Council and MPI.

Regulatory services manager Sarwan Kumar says having the data dotted in a spatial format on a map will be very good for building information about the state of food businesses and compliance.

“We are also looking to include alcohol licensing and other registered premises inspections.”

ENDS

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